It doesn’t take
being a rocket scientist to realize life is full of transitions. In fact, life
is a steady road of transitions and we are all on loan to one another. It think
the enemy of our souls has tricked us all into wanting the permanence of heaven
to be the norm for the constant change on earth. But the Bible reminds us that
we are not to worry about tomorrow, in other words, give it no thought. (cf.
Matthew 6:34)
Not only that, we are to press on toward the goal of the upward call in Christ each day. (cf. Philippians 3:14) This means we can find ourselves focusing on serving and being served in the present stages of our own lives.
We know this since we’ve gone through transitions. The transition of diapers to toilet training, childhood to adolescence to adulthood, being single to being married, having children, having children launch and move on in their own lives, etc… We are also in the transition, as is everyone, moving from this life to the next. We are all here on loan to one another to be a part of this process.
The church is no different. There are and will always be transitions. New people coming, new staff serving and old staff transitioning. There were people before me as senior pastor and there will be new pastors after me. There were people before you at First Free and there will be people after you. Methods we used in the past will be transitioned into new methods in the future. (Did you ever think we would read the Bible digitally on phones?) Soon, we will add service time changes.
The question always remains for us concerning “Do we respond to transition now?” We should honor the past and help the future – but we do it all from right now!
It’s not uncommon for people to simply be disappointed and miss the opportunity to serve and be served. Instead, I want it to be common at First Free to respond with a heart which is ready to pitch in for the moment and for the need. (cf. Titus 3:14)
Life on earth is about change (growth) and you simply can’t demand change to go away. It would be the same as asking existence to quit existing or time to quit ticking. So we might as well catch on and pitch in. We have a world to reach for Christ beginning in our own neighborhood. We have a community – a city that needs us to be as salt and as light. We have a church that needs your God-given talents and resources. Let’s keep learning, growing, reaching, discipling, equipping. It’s our mission.
Blessings,
Not only that, we are to press on toward the goal of the upward call in Christ each day. (cf. Philippians 3:14) This means we can find ourselves focusing on serving and being served in the present stages of our own lives.
We know this since we’ve gone through transitions. The transition of diapers to toilet training, childhood to adolescence to adulthood, being single to being married, having children, having children launch and move on in their own lives, etc… We are also in the transition, as is everyone, moving from this life to the next. We are all here on loan to one another to be a part of this process.
The church is no different. There are and will always be transitions. New people coming, new staff serving and old staff transitioning. There were people before me as senior pastor and there will be new pastors after me. There were people before you at First Free and there will be people after you. Methods we used in the past will be transitioned into new methods in the future. (Did you ever think we would read the Bible digitally on phones?) Soon, we will add service time changes.
The question always remains for us concerning “Do we respond to transition now?” We should honor the past and help the future – but we do it all from right now!
It’s not uncommon for people to simply be disappointed and miss the opportunity to serve and be served. Instead, I want it to be common at First Free to respond with a heart which is ready to pitch in for the moment and for the need. (cf. Titus 3:14)
Life on earth is about change (growth) and you simply can’t demand change to go away. It would be the same as asking existence to quit existing or time to quit ticking. So we might as well catch on and pitch in. We have a world to reach for Christ beginning in our own neighborhood. We have a community – a city that needs us to be as salt and as light. We have a church that needs your God-given talents and resources. Let’s keep learning, growing, reaching, discipling, equipping. It’s our mission.
Blessings,
P.S. Life is about choices. How do I know what choices are best? How do my choices affect time? How can I redeem the time? Come Sunday at 9:00am or 10:30am to discover how to reduce your options in a option-filled world.
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